GlobaLeaks vs SimpleX Chat
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted chat & communication options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
GlobaLeaks
Whistleblowing software enabling anyone to easily set up and maintain
VS
SimpleX Chat
Private messenger without any user identifiers
| Feature | GlobaLeaks | SimpleX Chat |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Chat & Communication | Chat & Communication |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | Haskell |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,509 | ★ 19,211 |
| First released | 2026 | 2021 |
| Replaces | — | Signal, WhatsApp, Telegram |
Why pick each one
Choose GlobaLeaks if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (1.5k GitHub stars)
- Written in Python
Frequently asked questions
Is GlobaLeaks or SimpleX Chat better?
Neither is universally better. SimpleX Chat has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are GlobaLeaks and SimpleX Chat free and open-source?
Yes. GlobaLeaks is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and SimpleX Chat under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run GlobaLeaks and SimpleX Chat with Docker?
GlobaLeaks: yes. SimpleX Chat: yes.